MSc/PgDip Applied Translation & Interpreting

Key facts

  • Start date: September
  • Study mode and duration: MSc: 12 months full-time
    PgDip: 9 months full-time

Study with us

  • gain practical experience through industry-based activities on a flexible, skill-building course
  • boost employability by participating in the SDL Trados Certification Program
  • option to pursue a research pathway toward PhD study
  • skill-focused, practical course combines business knowledge and translation/interpreting skills
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Why this course?

The translation industry is on the rise and specialist translators are highly sought after.

The integration of business knowledge and translation/interpreting skills will give you a competitive edge in the job market, opening up a broader range of career opportunities.

Through the skill-focused and practical nature of the course, you'll gain invaluable industry experience and proficiency in translation and interpreting, which will potentially enhance your employability.

Our lecturers have a wide range of practical and research experience in translation and interpreting.

The practical translation and interpreting sessions will include industry-based tasks.

Glasgow is the economic centre of Scotland, where you can expect to experience a rich cultural and social life.

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THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner

Interested in postgraduate study?

At the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, our friendly and knowledgeable team will be available to provide you with all the information you need to kick-start your postgraduate journey at the University of Strathclyde. Register for upcoming events below:

Siyu Luna Luo MSc Business Translation and Interpreting 500x500
All of my lecturers and my supervisor at Strathclyde were very helpful and supportive. It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience to study in Strathclyde and also live in a city with marvelous buildings and warm-hearted people.
Siyu Luna Luo
Graduate

What you’ll study

Your classes will include: 

  • Text Typology & Translation
  • Professional Interpreting Practice
  • Translation and Language Technology
  • Interpreting for Business and Commerce
  • Business Translation
  • Translation & Interpreting Studies
  • Dissertation/Translation project

Facilities

Our translation labs are equipped with translation software, highly desired in the translation industry, such as SDL Trados.

Learning & teaching

Lectures, workshops and lab practice will all ensure exposure to and engagement with real-world translation and interpreting scenarios.

Assessment

Assessment will be delivered through written assignments, practical interpreting scenarios, practical translation tasks, team and/or individual projects.

Please note

Currently, we only admit students who can master another language in addition to English, from the following:

  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • French
  • Arabic

It is possible to study two languages in this programme. You would take one language per semester, and then choose one of them as the focus of your dissertation.

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Course content

Text Typology and Translation

You are introduced to a variety of text types and gain practical experience of the translation strategies for effective translation of a wide range of specialised texts, including commercial, technical and political texts. This class will allow you to gain a professional level of translation proficiency.

Translation and Interpreting Studies

You get to know contemporary translation theory relating to business translation and interpreting and be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness and acceptability of your own and others’ translations and interpretations.

Professional Interpreting Practice

You will gain a practical knowledge of the various techniques and skills required to reach proficiency as an interpreter and be able to use them effectively in different modes of interpreting through practice.

Translation and Language Technology

You will gain hands-on experience of various cutting-edge translation tools to improve translation consistency and efficiency. You will also have the opportunity to work towards an industry-recognised qualification from SDL Trados.

Interpreting for Business and Commerce

This component introduces you to the professional dimension of interpreting through a variety of business and economics-related scenarios.

Business Translation

This class provides you with further exposure to a variety of authentic business texts to translate and evaluate, through which experience of commerce and the translation industry will be gained.

 

Optional classes

  • Introduction to Intercultural Communication 
  • Narrative Processing across Languages & Cultures 
  • Contemporary Scottish Cultural Studies 
  • Research Skills in Literature, Culture & Communication
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Entry requirements

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Academic / professional requirements

First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent. An academic background in English or translating is not required. Applicants with a lower degree classification may be considered on an individual basis.

Suitable applicants are required to pass an aptitude test prior to admission, comprising of a written translation test. This may be followed by an oral interview to further demonstrate your language proficiency. The oral interview can be conducted face-to-face or online, according to circumstances.

We currently admit students who can master another language in addition to English, from the following:

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • French
  • Italian
  • Spanish
English language requirements

Please check our English requirements before making your application.

Aptitude test

Suitable applicants are required to pass an aptitude test prior to admission, comprising of a written translation test. This may be followed by an oral interview to further demonstrate your language proficiency. The oral interview can be conducted face-to-face or online, according to circumstances.

International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Visit our international students' section

Chat to a student ambassador

If you want to know more about what it’s like to be a Humanities & Social Sciences student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!

Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.

Chat to a student ambassador
Business Translation & Interpreting Student Chenjiazi xU
If you want to take this course, my advice is to lay a good foundation and learn English and mother tongue well before you start taking this course.
Chenjiazi Xu

Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Scholarships

  • EU Engagement Scholarships are available to EU applicants who would have previously been eligible for Home (Scottish/EU) fee status
View all our scholarships
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Fees & funding

All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.

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Republic of Ireland

If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process.

Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland & Ireland

Full time - £9,550
Part-time* - £4,775

*Please note Year 2 fee will be subject to an increase

International

£21,550

Available scholarships

Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities.

Additional costs

International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.

Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.

How can I fund my course?

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Scottish postgraduate students

Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from England

Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from Wales

Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from Northern Ireland

Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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International students

We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

Sharon Deane-Cox 500x500
Translation and interpreting play a fundamental role in the transmission of information, ideas, ideologies and identities across boundaries of language and culture. I'm passionate about helping students to develop the skills that they need to identify and overcome barriers to communication, and to thrive in industry. I am also highly enthusiastic about bringing theory into dialogue with practice.
Sharon Deane-Cox
Programme leader
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Careers

Students gain professional proficiency in translation and liaison interpreting, specialising in business and commerce, which will open up a broad array of potential career paths from within the translation industry to global commerce and media.

Job titles from both the public and private sectors could include, but not necessarily be restricted to:

  • translator
  • interpreter
  • technical writer
  • international communication specialist (in advertising, marketing, media, and public affairs)
  • educator
  • administrator

Equipped with new business skills, you could also work freelance or establish your own translation and interpreting agency or business. This MSc is also a stepping-stone to pursue a PhD in the field of translation and/or interpreting.

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow
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Apply

Start date: Sep 2025

Applied Translation and Interpreting

MSc
full-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Applied Translation and Interpreting

PG Diploma
full-time
Start date: Sep 2025

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Contact us

Prospective student enquiries

Contact a member of our team on LiveChat between 10am and 4pm (GMT)

Telephone: +44 (0) 141 444 8600